Translation in visual context (Visual Context with In-App Editing)

Which translation should I use for this word and is my translation too long?

Problem

In a document, translators can infer the correct translation based upon context. Because mobile apps have limited screen real estate, most words and phrases are one to three words which is not enough to provide context. App translators typically receive a list of words and phrases in a spreadsheet, Word document, or in XML format. These do not contain enough context leaving the translation task prone to error. For example; the term "display" can be used as a noun or a verb, while "hot" has over 30 different translations.

There are several ways context can be provided.

First: The translator can use the same development tools as the programmer and see the words and phrases as they appear on the app screens. This requires the translator to also be a programmer able to use development tools, know how to cause all screens to display, and have access to source code.

Second: The translator can be provided with a set of app screen shots. This requires the app programmer to take all the screen shots and for the translator to search through all the screen shots for each word or phrase to be translated. Lots of tedious work for both.

Neither of these solutions are time efficient. Neither translator nor developer likes being put into a position of creating or using translations that could be faulty.

Solution

The translated text is displayed in a visual representation of the application screens within a web browser enabling a translator to see the context of where and how the text is being used. This is an enormous improvement over the traditional process.

The app screens and strings are displayed and editable in a web browser. The translator is not required to own or learn how to use the developer tools, doesn’t have to wade through static screen shots looking for the words in their translation list, and doesn’t need to learn how to use the app to capture all the screens. Any translators with access to a browser can see exactly how a word or phrase is being used to understand the context.